Journal October 2026 Special DISPUK Release_Full Version - Flipbook - Page 13
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She told me that Mona had refused every attempt the hospital made to help
her—even when they tried to make her eat by force. Eventually, the hospital gave
up. Mona9s life was in danger, and her parents were desperate and exhausted.
A neighbor of the mother suggested that she contact me. When I asked her if
Mona wanted to talk with me, she confirmed my suspicion that she didn9t. That
was when I came up with the idea of writing her a letter.
I sent the letter to Mona9s mother, asking her to give it to Mona and read it with
her if that made sense. An unexpected effect was the mother9s own response.
She wrote to say the letter had moved her to tears, rekindling hope for her
daughter. Here is the letter as it was written:
Dear Mona,
My name is Martin, and your mother wrote to me yesterday to ask
for help. She told me that for the past three years you have been
struggling with what she called an eating disorder, and that it hasn9t
improved even though the Center for Eating Disorders has tried to
help you. She told me that your experiences with therapy at the
center have had you refusing to go there, and to elope when
committed to the hospital. She also described that you have
